Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason for the proposed closure of a detention centre (details supplied) at Finglas, Dublin 11; his views on whether this decision to take effect from 31 March 2010 is in the interests of children from a child welfare point of view; the staffing implications of this decision in respect of Oberstown; if staff redundancies are anticipated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12992/10]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The position is as set out in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 262 on 10th November, 2009. I have also of course dealt with this matter in previous replies to a number of Parliamentary Questions.

The Deputy will be aware that the Government approved proposals in March, 2008 to develop national children detention facilities to be located on the existing State-owned Oberstown campus near Lusk, Co. Dublin. The Government also approved the establishment of a cross-Departmental Working Group to consider the possible future role for Finglas Child and Adolescent Centre (FCAC), the only children detention school not currently located on the Oberstown campus.

The Working Group presented its report in August 2009 (available at www.iyjs.ie) and I have accepted its recommendations. This decision which has been noted by Government will involve the closure of the Centre which will be completed by the end of March 2010, and the transfer in the meantime of all children, staff and services from FCAC to the Oberstown campus. Preparations are well under way in this regard.

The Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS), an executive office of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and part of my Office, is responsible for managing the four Children Detention Schools. Working with the Directors and senior management of all four Schools, the IYJS is now planning for the development of an integrated unified detention school service based in Oberstown. This is in line with the Government decision to build new children detention facilities there which will provide the full range of remand, assessment and detention services for all young offenders remanded or detained by the courts. It will provide all of the services currently provided by the FCAC which will ensure that the interests of children from a child welfare point of view will continue to be met.

I can also confirm that discussions, facilitated by the Labour Relations Commission, are ongoing with the Unions since September, 2009 on all aspects of the closure, the arrangements to be made, and the transfer of staff and services to positions in Oberstown. This includes arrangements for the redeployment of permanent staff from Finglas to Oberstown and the non-renewal of a number of fixed term contracts in both Centres (in accordance with the terms of their contracts). I am also informed that it was agreed to refer certain matters to the Labour Court for determination, with a hearing scheduled for later this week.